EPHESIANS

CHAPTER 1:11-13

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:11-12

Ephesians 1:11

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance,The Greek word eklerothemen, "obtained an inheritance" means "chosen“

11 … Having been predestinedTo predetermine, Decide beforehand, God decreeing from eternity

Ephesians 1:11

11 … according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

according to (divine) purpose, of the one energizing all things according to the counsel arising from His will.

This verse contains one of the strongest statements in Scripture that God is sovereign (cf. Ps. 115:3; Prov. 16:9, 33; Dan. 4:34-35). God is sovereign over "all things": "according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will." This includes the election of some people to salvation. - (Dr. Thomas Constable)

Ephesians 1:12

12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

The Jews (“we”) were first to put their trust (“hope”) in Jesus Christ

Acts 3:25-26Romans 1:16

Ephesians 1:12

12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

Verse 6: “To the praise of his glorious grace.”Verse 12: “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might beto the praise of his glory.”Verse 14: “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

11 In him we [the Jews] have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we [the Jews] who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you [the Gentiles] also, when you [the Gentiles]

heard the word of truth, the gospel of your [the Gentiles] salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our [Jews and Gentiles] inheritance until we [Jews and Gentiles] acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:11-12

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him …

V3 – Blessed us in ChristV4 – Chose us in ChristV5 – Predestined us for adoptionV7 – In Christ we have redemptionV11 – We are chosen & predestined – to hope in ChristV13 – We heard and believed

Ephesians 1:13

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO NEVER “HEARD”?

DISCUSSION

1 Peter 1:19-21 “Christ … was foreknown before the foundation of the world…”

Ephesians 1:4 “…he chose us in him before the foundation of the world…”

Hebrews 4:3 “…his works were finished from the foundation of the world.”

Pre-destined

1 Peter 2:8 “…They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.”